Solstice Souls: Solstice Sons (Book 3)

A Place to Go

Lan Zhan's POV

After breakfast early in the morning, all those traveling converge to say their final goodbyes at the gates to what was once Nightless City.

The Nie Brothers are staying to help Wen Qing and Wen Ning as they continue their work to help their people. They are also bringing their families back from Dafan to establish the Wen Sect as one primarily invested in healing.

Cangse Sanren and Wei Changze are going back to Yiling, and XiChen and Lan Qiren have recovered enough to return to Gusu.

"We have four months to prepare," XiChen says, smiling.

"For what?" Wei Ying asks warily, tugging on Lan Zhan's sleeve as if he knows why.

"We will divide our time between Gusu and Yiling as we are needed," Lan Zhan replies to his brother.

"We will?" Wei Ying tugs harder, and Lan Zhan smiles, unable to keep up with his teasing.

"Of course you will!" Uncle Qiren strokes his whiskers. "How can we have a wedding without our grooms?"

The penny drops and Wei Ying's face resembles an apple left out in the summer sun.

"That's...um...so when exactly?" Wei Ying quickly looks at his mother for an explanation.

"During your nap last night, we thought we should hash out some details. One of the things we discussed was your wedding, the second one since the first took place in Yiling and was somewhat of a secret. The truth is, all of the Cultivation World will want to be invited and Cloud Recesses has agreed to host the event." Cangse Sanren informs them with a wink.

"Just after A-Zhan's birthday." Wei Changze adds with a cheeky grin.

"Right, right, such exciting stuff!" Wei Ying says, looking a little green about it.

But he doesn't elaborate and Lan Zhan thinks this might be a conversation behind closed doors for them - however, if there's anything Wei Ying wants to change about their wedding, then he's going to do his best to inform his uncle and brother about Wei Ying's wishes.

"Are we all set?" Baoshan Sanren arrives in a flurry of wispy white robes looking like a graceful swan ready to fly up to the skies. "I've let my guests know we're coming."

Jiang Cheng and Meng Yao follow behind her, the former suffering from a self-inflicted hangover, and the latter hiding his enthusiasm for leaving Nightless City behind a dimpled smile. They're joining Baoshan Sanren and Wei Ying and Lan Zhan in going to meet Jiang Fengmian and Jiang YanLi on the Celestial's mountain retreat.

Xiao XingChen and Song Lan had originally traveled to Yiling to meet with Baoshan Sanren, and now they had done that, so they were going to stay in Nightless City to help the civilian effort after the war.

"Yes, Grandmother." Wei Ying beams at her, and they all unsheathe their swords.

"We'll see you back home," Cangse Sanren addresses her family before they take flight.

They take to the skies like a flock of multicoloured birds splitting up to go in their separate directions, all of them eager to leave this place.

***************

It is a welcome sight to see a beautiful thriving garden in full bloom and bursting with the fragrance of summer, when they reach Baoshan Sanren's home, high up in the mountains.

Baoshan Sanren brings them to her magnificent courtyard surrounded by her lovely flowers, out in the warm sunshine where a table has been set for seven guests. There's a huge pot of pork rib and lotus root soup being kept hot with a talisman stuck on its side, fresh bread and honey, a mix of meat and vegetable dumplings, and spicy noodles. One serving is kept conspicuously pale as if the chef knew one of the guests favoured bland meals.